Ding Junhui beat Neil Robertson 6-5 in an almighty battle in the semi-finals of the Huading Nylon World Open, a result which means that Robertson will not be among the top 16 seeds at the Crucible this year.
Australia's Robertson, who lost form earlier this season but had looked back to his best this week, led 5-4 and had chances in each of the last two frames, but couldn't take them and instead home favourite Ding goes though to Sunday's final to face Judd Trump. Crucible king in 2010 and one of the best players of the last two decades, Robertson could have rescued his top 16 status by winning the title this week, but now he will have to go through the qualifying rounds of the Cazoo World Championship for the first time since 2006.
That will not concern Ding as he looks ahead to a huge occasion against Trump in Yushan, with first to ten frames to take the trophy and £170,000 top prize. The world number nine is seeking his first ranking title since the 2019 UK Championship.
Ding himself has had poor spells of form in recent years, but this season has shown a higher level of consistency, and notably reached the final of the MrQ UK Championship, beating Trump 6-4 in the semi-finals before losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan. Victory tomorrow would prove that the 36-year-old is once again a contender for the biggest titles. And he can take confidence from this season's defeat of Trump in York, as well as the fact that he won their last final, at the 2014 German Masters. Ding will be playing in his 23rd ranking final and looking for his 15th title.
Robertson may reflect that he has looked much sharper this week, having previously failed to reach a ranking event semi-final since the 2022 English Open. He still has next weekend's World Mixed Doubles to play in, before heading to the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, needing two wins to reach the Crucible. Today's result also ends his hopes of playing in the Johnstone's Paint Tour Championship - John Higgins hangs on to the 12th and last slot for that event in Manchester.
Breaks of 68 and 118 helped Robertson to an early 3-1 lead, before Ding fought back to lead 4-3 with top runs of 75 and 51. In frame eight, Robertson made a 55 clearance for 4-4, then he regained the lead with a 128, his eighth century of the tournament.
In the ninth, he was among the balls on 36 when he missed an awkward red to a top corner, bridging over another ball, and Ding responded with 68 for 5-5. First chance in the decider came Robertson's way, and he made 53 but was unlucky not to land on a red when nudging the cluster as he potted the pink. Ding clawed his way back to 56-44, and when his opponent made a safety error on the last red, he took the chance to clear before thumping the cushion with his fist in celebration.
"I can't feel my legs, there was so much pressure on me," said Ding, who beat Kyren Wilson in the final of this event in 2017. "When I got the chance in the last frame, I thought I was going to win, but there was pressure on every shot. When I potted the pink I tried to enjoy the moment.
"From the first match this week I have tried to stay calm and concentrate. I have played a few great matches, then today I didn't play that well, but winning is always good. Judd is always consistent and he is confident of winning any tournament."
Robertson wrote on X: "Tough one to take, especially battling on various fronts out there. Found the focus again at 3-4 down and played three brilliant frames but wasn’t meant to be, just a centimetre out here or there on match ball and couldn’t get through. Well done to Ding it was a great atmosphere. My game is in fantastic shape and I look forward to the rest of the season. Thanks everyone for all the support."
